Torque measuring device



IN V EN TORS STANLEY W. BAKE R.

BY IDHN T. HALLIDAY.

ATTDRNEY Mmm mm1. Rmw ER Kwt. .Mw )i M W SWF H T m 5 v s am@ w l ffy, 2, )r 1 l m w 1 N K 0 United States Patent O TORQUE MEASURING DEVICE Stanley W. Baker, Hackensack, and John T. Halliday,

Midland Park, N. J., assignors to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware l Application September 30, 1950, Serial No. 187,748,1

` s` claims. (cm3- 136) j This invention relates to means for measuring the torque transmitted from one rotating shaft to another and is particularlydirected to such torque measuring means for shafts drivably connected together for rotation in the same direction at the same speed, that is, connected together for rotation in the same direction at 1:1

speed ratio.

In the case of a transmission drivably connecting one shaft to another at other than a 1:1 speed ratio, some fixed member of said transmission is subject to a reaction torque. The reaction torque acting on such a fixed reaction member is proportional to the torque transmitted by the rotating shafts. As is known, measurement of the torque of such a fixed reaction member provides a simple and reliable arrangement for determining the magnitude of the torque transmitted by the transmission. t Where, however a pair of shafts are connected together for rotation in the same direction at a 1:1 speed ratio there generally is no such fixed reaction member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement for drivably connecting a pair of shafts for rotation in the same direction at 1:1 `speed ratio such that there is provided a fixed reaction member which is subjected to a torque proportional to the torque transmitted whereby said transmitted torque can be determined by measuring t the torque on said fixed reaction member.

fixed torque `reaction member.

. As illustrated, the driving connection between the shafts 10and 12 includes sun gears 14 and 16 each co-axially t connected to the shafts 12 and 10 respectively. The sun gears 14 and 16 have an equal number of teeth and their pitch Vcircles are co-axial and have the same diameter. A planet carrier 18 is piloted about an extension 20 of the shaft 12 for rotation relative thereto about the axis of said shaft. The planet carrier 18 has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced studs 22 projecting axially therefrom, each of said studs having a pair of side-by-side planet pinions 24 and 26 journaled thereon. The pinions 24 and 26 of each pair are identical and three pairs of such pinions are illustrated (see Figure 2). The pinions 24 are disposed in meshing engagement with the sun gear 14 and the pinions 26 are disposed in meshing engagement with the sun gear 16. Each pair of pinions 24 and 26 is maintained in position on its stud 22 by the head `of a bolt 28 extending through said stud.

An internal gear 30 is co-axially disposed about the sun gear 14, said internal gear meshing with the pinions 24. Similarly an internal gear 32 is co-axially disposed about Mice the sun gear 16 said internal gear 32 meshing with the pinions 26. The internal gears 30 and 32 have an equal number of teeth and their pitch circles are co-axial and have the same diameter. As hereinafter described the internal gears 30 and 32 are secured against rotation to a fixed housing illustrated in part at 34.

With the aforedescribed transmission or gearing connecting the shafts 10 and 12, said shafts are drivably connected for rotation in the same direction at 1:1 speed ratio regardless of which of said shafts is the driven shaft. When torque is transmitted from one of said shafts to the other, the internal gears 30 and 32 are each subject to a reaction torque proportional to the torque transmitted, the reaction torque on said internal gears being equal but being oppositely directed about the axis of the shafts, whereby the algebraic sum4 of the torques on the reaction gears 30 and 32 is zero. Thus the internal gears 30 and 32 comprise fixed reaction members of the gearing drivably connecting the shafts 10 and 12 and therefore the magnitude of the torque transmitted can be determined by measuring the reaction torque of either of said internal gears.

The internal gear 32 has an annular rim 36 which is rigidly secured againstrotationto the fixed housing 34 by means of threaded studs 38 projecting from said housing through said annular rim. The annular rirn 36 is rigidly clamped against the fixed housing 34 by sleeves 40 threaded against said rim on the projecting ends of the studs 38. The internal gear 30 also has an annular rim 42 through which the studs 38 project. The sleeves 40, threaded on the studs 38 against the rim 36, project through the rim 42 in clearance relation thereto, said clearance being indicated at 44. The gear rim 42 is held loosely in position on the studs 38 by the enlarged heads 46 of the sleeves 40. With this arrangement the internal gear 32 is rigidly clamped to the fixed housing 34 but the internal gear 30 can have small rotational movements about the axis of the shafts 10 and 1l2 as limited by the clearance 44.

Assuming, for example, that the shafts 10 and 12 rotate counterclockwise (as viewed in Figure 2) and that shaft `12 is the driving shaft, then the reaction torque on the internal gear 30 is counterclockwise. In order to restrain rotation of the internal gear 30 in response to said reaction torque, the rim 40 of said gear is provided with an ear 48 which is operatively connected to a piston 50 by a piston rod 52 extending tangentially from said rim. The piston 50 is slidable in a cylindrical bore 54 formed in a fixed member 56 which is rigidly carried by the housing 34. A pump 58, which may be drivably connected to the shafts 10 and12, supplies a liquid under pressure to the bore 54 behind the piston 50 through. a passage 60. A dr'ain passage 62 extends through the member S6 into the bore 544 and the piston 50 has a seal ring 64 arranged r to cooperate with said drain passage to control the extent t'owhich said passage is opened.

With the arrangement illustrated, when the system is stabilized the torque reaction force acting on the piston 50 through the piston rod 52 is balanced by the opposing fluid pressure force acting on said piston. Then, for example, upon an increase in the torque acting on the reaction gear 30, `the torque reaction force on the piston S0 increases proportionally to momentarily unbalance the forces acting on said piston but as soon as said forces are slightly unbalanced by said increase in the torque reaction force the piston 50 moves slightly to the right (as viewed in Figure 2) until the closing adjustment of the drain passage 62 is suflicient to increase the fluid pressure on said piston to a value which balances the torque reaction force. Similarly a decrease in the torque reaction force is accomplished by a slight but simultaneous movement of the piston S0 to the left 1 t 3 (Figure to increase vthe extent to which the drain passage "'62 lis openY nthereby effecting la simultaneous 'decrease in the fluid pressure force acting against the pistonso asto balance* the opposing torque responsive force. l`Thusthe piston 50 automatically controls the'dr-ain passage'Z to vary the magnitude of theffluidipressure against said piston so that said pressure always ybalances the torque responsive force on said piston. lThe range of oating movementfofthe internal reaction gear 3l) is small since only a small movement offthe piston5`0 provides a large change in'the uidpressure actingthereon. Therefore, as illustrated, thefclearance'44 yneed not be large. f, l `Because '-thepiston `50 automatically :maintains the uid pressurey forcevacting ythereagainst. equal to the opposing torque reaction force transmitted from the gear 30 through the .piston rodf52 and lbecause `the-reaction torque on the gear` 30 is always proportional tothe torque transmitted, vthefuid pressure against the piston 5'0is 1 always proportional to said transmitted torque. Accordingly ai'iluid pressure measuring device 66 may bec'onnected to the bore-54 vthrough a passage 6B and calibrated to read directlyrthe magnitudeof the transmitted torque. Obviously the torque acting on the reaction gear 32 is also proportional to ,the torque-.transmitted-so that said. .reaction t gear 32, instead ofy the reactiongear 30, couldbe used formeasuring the torque franmittsrt With the structure described, a lsimple and reliable devicefor measuring the torque transmittedl from one rotating -shaft to another :is provided notwithstanding the factvthat said shafts rotate in the same direction at 1:1 speed ratio. y y y While 'we have described our invention in detailin-its preisentpreferred embodiment, it willbe obvious to those skilled in thevart, .after'understanding'our invention, that various changesV andVV modifications may-be made therein without departing from the spirit or scopethereof. We aimin the appended claims tocover all suchrnodiicatiQaS- rWe, claim: as our invention:

1. In combination; rst and secondco-a-xial shafts;

.gearingmeans :drivably connecting said shafts forr-rotationin the same direction at `lzl speed ratio; said. gearing means including 'a plurality of member-s eachsubject to a reaction torque'proportionalvtothetorque trans- Lmitted by said shafts, the-algebraic sum of the reaction torquesv acting on, said' members.y being :equal to yzen-.Cefa -xedstructure and-means ,for restraining Ysaid reaction members against ,rotationy by connecting -said reaction members to saidiixedstructurefso thatthe net 'torque transmitted'to said .xed structure by said members is equal-.to zero, said last-'named -m'eans including measuringfmeans responsiverto 'changesginrth'e reaction torque acting on at leastone of -said members.

2,In vcombination; lfirst `and --second co-.axial vshafts; gearing means drivably connecting said shafts: for rotatio'nin the same direction latV l :11 speed Lratio; Isaidgear ing means including a pairof reactionfrnembers each subjectto equal reaction torque proportional to 'the reaction torque transmitted by said shafts, the reaction torque acting on' said reaction members 'urging said "reaction members in opposite rotative' directions about the axis of said shafts; a xed structure; and means connecting said reaction members to said xed structure for restraining said reaction members against rotation, said last named means including' a piston operatively connected to one of said reaction members and means for supplying a iiuid under pressure against said piston for balancing thel reaction torquewforce exerted by said oneV reation member against said piston.

3. lu combination; vrstand second"coiaxialeshafts';A a pair -of sun gears, onefor and co-axially-connected to each of said shafts; a pair of planet gears, one for and meshing with each of saidsun gears; -alpair of co-axial reaction gears, one for and meshing with each of said planet gears; the number of teeth and the pitch circle diameter of each sun gear, planet gear and react-ionvgear being' equal to v.that of 'the other sun gear, planetgear and reaction ,gear respectively; and measuring means responsivefto changes inthe reaction torque actingfon at least lone of said reaction gears. 'l p 4. In combinationfiirst and second eroi-'axial shaftsga pair of sun gears, one for and co-axially connected to each of said shafts; a pair of planet gears, one for and meshing withfeaeh of said sun gears; a pair` yof co-axial reaction gears, onefor and meshing with each of. said planet gears; "the number of teeth and Ythe .pitch circle diameter of eachsungear, planetV gear and reaction'gear being equal to that of'the other sun gear-planet gear and reactiongear respectively; a piston operatively con-l nected Ato one of saidreaction gears; and means for supplying a uid under pressure against said piston forbalancing `the reaction torque force exerted by'therassociated reaetionl gear Vaga-inst -s'aid piston.

f5., In combination; iirs't and second co-axi-al shafts; a pairvof. sun gears, one for and co-axially connected. to each of said shafts; a vpair of planet gears, onefor and meshing with each of. said sungears; a pairi of co-axial reaction gears, one for and meshing with each of said planetvgea'rs; the number of teeth and the .pitcheircle diameter of each sungear, planetgear andreaction gear being equal to that of theot'her sun .gear,vplanetgear and reaction `gear respectively; a piston operatively' connected to :oneof said reaction` gears; means lfor `supplying 1 a'iiu'id under pressure against said piston for opposing the Ltorque reaction force A.exerted lby the-associated `reaction gear against said., piston; andzmeanstcontrol-led by movements. of said piston l`for regulatinglthefmagnitude of said iuid. pressure to balance said torque r'reactioniforce. Y 

